Even though there have been transfers in and out at Bayern Munich, the summer window for Bayern has been dominated by speculation about contract talks of key players. Leon Goretzka is one of the key players that has entered the final 12 months of his contract.
The German midfielder has been in negotiations with the club for some time. Reports in Germany suggested at the end of the season that a contract renewal was close to confirmation. However, the end of June saw murmurs in German media suggesting that the introduction of a new agent has complicated contract talks.
Apart from the complex nature of negotiations, Manchester United is also reportedly showing interest in the 26-year-old German international. The German club remains hopeful about resolving Goretzka’s future when he returns to Sabner Strasse after his vacation.
Die Roten’s head coach has hinted that Goretzka has expressed the desire to continue playing for the club. While talking to Sky Sports this week, Julian Nagelsmann admitted that Goretzka is enthusiastic about the club, and the German midfielder will be a big part of his plans for next season.
"“Yes, he’s up for FC Bayern, he’s up for the team. I think you can see that in the way he plays. It’s also quite normal for a player to always think about his future.”“We all want him to stay here, he is an outstanding player who, with his goal threat, is certainly one of the most dangerous players in the Bundesliga, and also one of the most dangerous midfielders in Europe. For me he’s a cornerstone in the team”"
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Goretzka has established himself as a key member of the first team in the last two seasons. He impressed in his debut season, but the last two campaigns have seen him becoming a pivotal player for the team. The German international has added more pieces to his game to become an efficient and complete midfielder.
The former Schalke midfielder is likely to be one of the first names on the team sheet under Nagelsmann. Along with Joshua Kimmich, Goretzka can go toe to toe with any midfield set up in Europe. The German duo has different qualities, but they perfectly complement each other in the center of the park.
Contract renewals becoming a tedious task for Bayern Munich
Die Roten has been facing headaches while negotiating terms for new deals for key players in the last 18 months. Goretzka’s renewal looked straightforward since the player was keen to continue in Bavaria, but the recent hurdle does suggest that Hasan Salihamidzic has a big task on his hand to complete contract extensions.
After Goretzka, Rekordmeister is likely to focus on extending deals of Kingsley Coman and Joshua Kimmich. Both players have two years left on their contracts. Meanwhile, Niklas Sule is also set to hold talks with the club and Nagelsmann after the vacation as he enters the final year of his contract. Considering the impact of the pandemic on the finances of the club, contract renewals of key players must be concluded as soon as possible.